Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-26
PARIS, Nav 25

PARIS, May 25
The Opera Comique was burned tonight
aao II Is feared that many persons lost their
n'es- Ihe nre broke out during the per-
formance. The theatre was crowded. Al
the hrst alarm a rush was made for the exits,
The fre spread with great rapidity Many
persons sprang from the windows to the
ground Fourteen were instantly killed by
the fall. Forty-three were picked up more
or less injured, some fatally, many very seri-
ously. Itis probable that large number
OF persons have been crushed to death in the
galleries and on the stairways Many occu-
pyins seats near the stage were undoubtedly
caught by the fire and burned to death
The fire broke out during the first act of
the opera "Mignon." One of the wings
caught nre fr m gas JET The entire stage
was Immediately inveloped in flames, and
the hre soon spread to the whole house. All
the actors ran out in their stage costumes
The audience got out quickly but the ga.
was turned of before all left the building. 1t
is feared that some were left in the upper
tiers The roof soon tell in. With the ex-
ception OF Nine. Seller. who persisted, all
the actors escaped, though several supernu-
mares were injured severely. Five bodies
terribly burned were conveyed to the Nation
al Library, amoug them being the body of a
Nineteen persons are now known to be dead
A woman half clad, carrying some costumes,
fled from the stage screaming Some supers
fled with nothing on but their tights. The
flames spread with such rapidity that in if
teen minutes the stage was vast furnace.
Several actors escaped by climbing to the
roof, where they were rescued by fire es-
capes. The killed include four firemen
There was not a frantic rush in the theatre,
but II is believed that the staircase became
blocked. NJ. Tasquin implored the audience
to remain seated until the exits were opened,
which they did. II they had made rush the
loss of life would have been terrible.
The scene outside was one of the widest
excitement. Falling sparks were striking
horses in the surrounding streets, causing
them to plunge and rear. The flames shot
out Of the windows, forcing the crowd into
the narrow streets, where the crush was ter
rifle. An actress says there were .l50 per.
sons on the stage when the fire broke out
She heard glass falling like a ail-storm, but
told the other girls not to mind it. While
speaking a column of flame burst through
the wings with roar All rushed pell nell
from the stage. Many policemen were in
jured
The iron curtain was lowered in front OF
the stage and this prevented the fire from
spreading Immediately to the auditorium anG
allowed the audience time to escape. Mos
of the casualties were due to nervousness
The victims were almost all singers Th'
streets in the vicinity of the burned thestr,
were crowded until early this morning.
MIR, Sewell, solicitor British embassy, saiC
the audience showed great calmness wheI
the alarm was given When the gas was ex
tinguished he CROPPED his way to the balloon.
and saw people in the street laying straw
mattresses to receive the persons jumpin!
from the windows. He was ultimately res
eued by the fremen. Only fortnight agC
M. Stennacker called attention in the cham
Der of deputies to the dangerous condition o
the Opera Comique.
LONDON, May 25.
The Havas News Agency of Paris places
the number of killed and injured by the fire
at 60. The theatre was completely des
| troyed.